Yet another upset will alter the top of men’s college basketball rankings.
Three days after Northwestern stunned top-ranked Purdue, another No. 1 went down. Tennessee earned a 68-59 win over Alabama on Wednesday night, likely ending the Crimson Tide’s short-lived run with the top spot.
“Bama’s first game as No. 1 in 20 years,” ESPN’s Brett Edgerton noted. “Hope they enjoyed their stay.”
“Top rank Alabama has fallen to Tennessee yet AGAIN on Rocky Top,” a fan wrote, referring to the Volunteers defeating the Crimson Tide’s football program last season.
“Bama learning the hard way that being ranked #1 is a curse,” a fan said.
“College basketball is on something dude,” a fan wrote.
“I knew they’re just a football school,” a fan claimed about Alabama.
Tennessee pulled off a huge win in Knoxville despite shooting 36.5 percent (23-of-63) from the floor. Alabama committed 19 turnovers and sent its opponents to the foul line 25 times.
The Vols’ win is surprising considering they had previously lost three of their last four games. Ranked as high as No. 2 this season, they’re now 20-6 after the massive bounce-back win. The Crimson Tide fell to 22-4.
According to Stats Perform, Alabama’s loss tied a single-season record as the eighth time a No. 1-ranked team lost. Such parity should make for a highly unpredictable NCAA tournament.